Washing-machine.



TONAWANDA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM ELBERT M. LAGEY, OF

HARMON, OF TONAWANDA, NEW YORK.

WASHING-MACHINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 1908.

Application filed April 5. 1905. Serial No. 254.042.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELBERT M. LAOEY, citizen of the United States, residing at Tonawanda, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washing-Machines and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in machines for washing clothes, the object being to provide a machine for this purpose by means of which clothes may be thoroughly cleansed and rinsed with the least possible effort and in the shortest time, and consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention: Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a machine made in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan view with a portion of the top broken away so as to clearly disclose the interior construction.

My invention pertains particularly to the means provided to efiect the thorough and rapid cleansing of the articles operated upon.

In said drawings 1 represents the vessel or the tub adapted to contain the articles to be cleansed and the suds or soap and water in which they are washed. Said tub is preferably of a rectan ular shape with flaring sides, is made of galvanized iron, and is provided with wooden frame 2 tightly secured in its upper end. Said frame is provided with a large central opening 3 adapted to be filled and closedwith the hinged cover or top 4. Said cover 4 is provided with a longitudinal central slot 5 in which the stem 6 of the combined clothes carrier and pounder device 7 is adapted to oscillate. Said pounder device 7 is pivotally secured to the upper side of said cover 4, the pivot 8 passing through projections 9 rigidly mounted on a plate 10 which surrounds said slot 5, a similar plate 11 being secured to the under side of said cover 4 to strengthen said cover in the neighborhood of said slot and prevent undue wear of the same.

The upper end of the shank or stem 6 of the pounder device 7 is adapted to receive the socket 12 of the removable handle 13, by means of which said pounder device may be oscillated. Said pounder device 7 comprises the pivoted shank 6, which extends downward to about the center of the tub where a transverse bar 14 is rigidly secured to same.

The bar 14 is provided with a plurality of oval wire loops 15 extending above and below about two-thirds of the distance to the cover and the bottom of the tub respectively, said loops lying in the plane of said transverse bar 14. Said loops may be secured in any prac tical manner, preferably by having them placed in a mold and casting the transverse bar about them, forming said bar of malleable iron. Said bar 14 is slightly shorter than the width of said opening 3 so that as said cover 4 is turned back on its hinges said bar can pass freely through said opening out of said tub. A wedge shaped supporting block 16 is secured to the rear end of said cover 4 which is adapted to support said cover in an inclined position when opened to its extreme limit, so that any free moisture adhering to said cover or pounder device when the cover is turned back will drain back into said tub. The inner surfaces of the sides of said tub in the path of said pounder device are provided with triangular shaped pockets, formed of inwardly projecting downwardly inclined horizontal strips 18, 18 spaced apart, the upper strips of greater width than the lower strips, and the lower strips also of less length than the upper strips, the two sets of strips connected at their ends by converging side strips 17, 17 the four sets of strips forming angular pockets upon each inner side surface of the tub. The

upper and lower inclined strips 18, 18 project downwardly at an angle of about thirty degrees, and the side portions 17 are flared outwardly. The inner ends of said horizontal strips 18 are formed at a small angle to the vertical, as shown in Fig. 1, so that as said pounder device is brought into proximity to the mouths of the side pockets it will, with the clothes which are carried by it, practically fill the same, the object of which will be explained later. The bottom of said tub is provided with two upwardly projecting V- shaped partition walls 19 dividing the lower portion of the tub into three longitudinal pockets or divisions 21, 22 and 23. The outer pockets 21 and 22 are triangular shaped with their apexes approaching each other near the center of the bottom of the tub, and the middle pocket 23 is somewhat double triangular shaped having its narrowest part in the center and its widest parts beneath the angular side pockets. Said walls 19 are each provided with an opening 24 adjacent their lower edges, and said tub is provided with a drain pipe 25 to permit the drawing off of the dirty suds. A plug 26 is provided with which said pipe 25 may be closed. Said frame 2 isprovided with buttons 27 or similar devices adjacent the free end of said cover 4 by means of which said cover may be secured in its closed position. Said frame is also provided at its outer edge opposite to the free end of said cover with an upward projecting board 28 to which the ordinary wringer may be attached in the usual manner. The frame,2 is cut away opposite the free end of said cover 4 and adj acent said wringer board 28, so that the drainings from the wringer will be carried back into the tub, a strengthening board 29 being provided which projects beneath the free end of said cover 4 and supports the same in its closed position. vided around the other three sides of said opening 3 upon which said cover 4 rests when closed, and'which are adapted to prevent the suds from being forced out through the joint between the cover 4 and the frame 2. A suitable folding stand 31 maybe provided upon which said tub may be supported.

In operation the articles to be cleansed and the suds or soap and water are placed in the tub, some of the smaller pieces of clothing being threaded loosely through the wire loops of the pounder device 7, the cover-is then closed and fastened down and the pounder device oscillated to and fro by means of the handle 13. As said pounder device is swung on its pivot backward and forward it Covering strips 30 are pro' alternately forces the articles being cleansed into the angular side pockets and pulls them out again, thus producing the effect of forcing the suds alternately through the clothes in opposite directions, and thoroughly rubbing The action of the machine is very rapid and 1 thorough, the dirtiest clothes being thoroughly cleansed in a short time. My machine is eXceedingly efficient and is conveniently and easily operated.

I claim as my invention:

In a washing machine the combination with a receptacle, of angular pockets disposed upon the inner side faces thereof and formed of spaced upper and lower strips inclining downwardly and inwardly and connected by converging side strips, reversely disposed angular strips in the bottom of said receptacle forming converging pockets at the center, and a pounder device comprising an arm swinging through the cover of the receptacle and provided with means for supporting portions of the clothes during the washing action.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELBERT M. LACEY.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM I-IARMON, CHAs. J. KNOELL. 

